Top Winter Events 2023-2024
The winter season has arrived, offering plenty of opportunities for joyous celebrations and festive gatherings. Dive into our Top Winter Events article covering December, January, and February, featuring premier events like Winterfest and explore the magical experience of kayaking under mangroves professionally decorated with Christmas lights at the ELC's Wintergreen Night Lights. Delight in renowned festivals such as the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival, adding a dash of excitement to your winter festivities. Immerse yourself in the world of entertainment with captivating performances like Riverside Theatre's "Jersey Boys" and "Kinky Boots," promising an unforgettable experience. Indian River County is brimming with a diverse array of events that will leave you wanting more. Join us in celebrating the season, and we look forward to welcoming you to the festivities! Planning a getaway later in the year? Check our website in February for our next seasonal events article.
December
Winterfest
December 1st - 3rd / 2023
Formally known as the "Festival of Trees", "Winterfest" is considered Vero Beach’s premier holiday event, this festival transforms Riverside’s campus into a holiday wonderland filled with beautifully decorated trees, centerpieces, wreaths, vendor booths, arts and crafts, live performances, Santa’s Village, and even an ice skating rink! Winterfest will be open from 5:30 - 9:00 PM on December 1st, 10 AM- 9 PM December 2nd, and from 10 AM - 4 PM December 3rd. There will be featured shows of Finding Nemo Jr (60-minute version) as well. For more information, visit their website!
Annual Vero Beach Christmas Parade
December 2nd / 2023
Bring your holiday spirit and family out to an evening of festivities! Come view the beautifully lit floats, take part in the candy cane race, and don’t forget to take the kids to see Santa Claus! The Oceanside Business Association Christmas Parade is an annual enjoyment for all! The parade runs along Ocean Drive, from Flamevine to Live Oak. For more information, visit their website!
Sebastian BrewFest
December 2nd / 2023
Hosted by the Rotary Club of Sebastian, this year's event is expected to be twice in size in attendance with more breweries, cideries, and possibly some wineries too. Live Music up on the main stage. You've been to the Shrimpfest put on by the same group of folks, now experience the Brewfest. ONLY A BREWFEST!!! No children or pets are allowed. Service animals with proper identification only. Thank you for complying with this small request. MUST BE 21+ to enter. RAIN or SHINE. Tickets will be $40 at the door! For more information, visit their website!
Mel Fisher's Treasures Open House
December 3rd / 2023
This is your chance to meet the Fisher family and get free admission to see their collection of amazing treasures. Mel Fishers Treasure Museum is even giving out a 10% discount on select items in the gift shop! This event will be running on December 3rd from 12 - 5 pm, don't miss out! For more information, visit their website!
Holidays At The Museum
December 3rd / 2023
Join us at the Vero Beach Museum of Art for the annual Holidays at the Museum event for the enjoyment of families and children! Held on Sunday, December 3rd from 1pm - 4pm throughout the Museum. Visitors will enjoy free admission to the current exhibitions, and free live school/student music and dance performances. There will be high-flying acrobatics shows from Cirque Adventure! For more information, visit their website!
WinterGreen Night Lights
December 7th - 9th & 18th - 20th / 2023
Embrace the most magical time of year at the Environmental Learning Center as they celebrate with their signature event WinterGreen Night Lights on December 7th, 8th, 9th, and December 18th, 19th, and 20th. This family-friendly celebration will take place from 5:30 – 8:30 PM over six nights and feature unique entertainment each evening. Adults and children can experience the lighted mangrove tunnels by canoe as ELC paddlers take guests on a ride in the Indian River Lagoon. We encourage families of all ages to explore this one-of-a-kind event. For more information, visit their website!
Tinsel & Tidings
December 8th - 17th/ 2023
Join the Vero Beach Theatre Guild and the Vero Beach community for a holiday celebration! There will be music, dance, and festive holiday showcases featuring local organizations you know and love! It's not too early to make plans and grab tickets together for you, your family, and your friends. For more information on show times, visit their website!
Jake Owen Flamingo Songwriter Splash
December 9th / 2023
Join Heaton's Vero Beach for an intimate evening supporting the Jake Owen Foundation. The Jake Owen Flamingo Songwriter Splash will be on December 9th from 11 AM - 1 PM. Doors will open at 10. Seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis, so we suggest you get there early. Fore more information, visit their website!
Art After Dark
December 15th / 2023
The Vero Beach Museum of Art is hosting its 3rd art after-dark digital art exhibition with expanded new global artworks from seven countries. This exhibition is free to attend and will be from 6 to 8 pm on December 15th. The goal is to celebrate the possibilities found at the convergence of art and architecture. Artworks include illustration, experimental film, motion graphics, and large-scale digital video production with sound. Food trucks will be on-site offering food and refreshments and a cash bar. If you wish to attend, bring your own lawn chairs. For more information, visit their website!
Verohoho
December 16th / 2023
Verohoho! Join us for a festive Christmas celebration featuring authentic food, a special beer release by American Icon Brewery, seasonal gifts, art, music, and kids' activities. Experience the magic of this traditional event, held for one night only on Saturday, December 16th, from 5-9 PM at the Heritage Center in Downtown Vero Beach. Free and open to all - no outside food or dinks, no pets, just good vibes! For more information, visit their website!
Christmas Boat Parade - Cancelled Due to Inclement Weather
December 16th / 2023
Join the community in celebrating the joy of Christmas as boat owners showcase their creativity with dazzling light displays, transforming their vessels into floating works of art. Embark on a festive aquatic journey at the Indian River County Christmas Boat Parade! Imagine the tranquil waters illuminated by a dazzling array of twinkling lights as boats adorned with festive decorations glide through the night. This annual event transforms the river into a magical holiday spectacle, capturing the spirit of the season in every ripple and reflection. This event will be taking place on the Intracoastal Waterway and Merrill Barber Bridge starting at 6:30 pm.
LaPorte Cowboy Christmas
December 23rd / 2023
LaPorte Farms welcomes you to their Cowboy Christmas event on December 23rd, from 4 pm to 8 pm. Come see Santa! He arrives on horseback at 6 pm! Come visit to feed the animals. We will have pony rides. Thousands of colorful twinkling Christmas lights. Over 50 beautiful decorated Christmas trees! Whoville, "Moondance" our Llama dressed in his Christmas outfit with his Elf handler. For more information, visit their website!
Holiday Movie Night
December 23rd / 2023
Happy Holidays! Our gift to you this year is a very special showing of two of your favorite festive movies; Elf, featuring Will Ferrell, and the Holiday Classic; Miracle on 34th Street! The movies are free, but you must reserve a seat. Concessions will be available for $5! This is possible because of our fantastic partners and sponsors; the Vero Beach Film Festival and Beyond the Trend Marketing. For more information, visit their website!
The Comedy Zone at Riverside Theatre
December 1st, 2nd, 9th, 15th, 16th / 2023
Riverside Theatre's Comedy Zone is the Treasure Coast’s best stage for Live Stand-Up Comedy on select Friday and Saturday nights in December. Have a great time with friends and family with TWO hilarious comedians and an EMCEE plus live music before the show for one low ticket price. There's No drink minimum & free parking. Recommended for ages 18 and up. For more information, visit their website!
McKee Festival of Lights
December 15th - 17th, 19th - 22nd, 28th - 30th / 2023
McKee Botanical Gardens Magical Festival of Lights runs during the weekends of December. Relive moments of holidays past as you marvel at McKee’s nostalgic large-scale train display and listen to the sounds of the 1924 Wurlitzer Band Organ. Get in the spirit of McKee’s traditional holidays by visiting with Santa, enjoying outdoor holiday movies, and intermittent snow flurries create a traditional holiday spirit in the Garden along with Santa, outdoor holiday movies, performances by local entertainers, and special holiday treats from the Garden Café. Thousands of bright, colorful professionally installed lights illuminate the Garden pathways along with lighted holiday displays and festive decorations. For more information, visit their website!
Annual Christmas Park & Walk
December 21st - 23rd & 28th - 30th / 2023
LaPorte Farms welcomes you to their winter wonderland, annual Christmas Park & Walk! From 7 pm to 9 pm on select dates enjoy fresh hot apple cider, hot chocolate, s'mores, Christmas punch, and Santa's cookies by the warm fireplace. Stroll through the Winter Wonderland to see the magical Christmas displays. For more information, visit their website!
Art in the Park
Select dates December 2023 - April 2024
The Vero Beach Art Club invites you to a celebration of artistic expression where you can immerse yourself in a world of color, texture, and imagination. Stroll through the park and discover a diverse array of artworks, from paintings to sculptures, all thoughtfully created by talented artists. Enjoy the chance to meet the artists, find unique treasures, and experience the magic of art in the heart of nature. Art in the Park will be taking place December 10, January 14 & 28, February 18 and 25, March 24th, and April 7th from 10 - 4. For more information, visit their website!
Nutcracker on the Indian River
December 29th - 30th / 2023
Nutcracker on the Indian River retains all the whimsy and magic of the original ballet but moves the action to the year Vero was founded (1919). By taking the ballet’s heroine, Marie, on a holiday journey from New York to Florida, Fifth Avenue Mansions, Grand Central Station, and rail cars become settings. Instead of a second act featuring candy characters, Marie dreams of the shores of the Indian River Lagoon, and is entertained by all manner of local flora and fauna. From land crabs to manatees and river otters to bougainvillea, our production has become an instant classic that takes all the magic of the stage and uses that magic to both entertain and inspire. For more information, visit their website!
January
Jersey Boys at Riverside Theatre
Jan 2nd - 28th / 2024
Who knew four guys from New Jersey would turn the world upside down? With a unique sound that nobody had heard, but the radio couldn’t get enough of, Jersey Boys is the Tony® Award-winning true-life musical of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. While their harmonies were perfect on stage, their offstage relationships were a different story. For more information on show times, visit their website!
Bark in the Park
January 7th / 2024
Get ready for a tail-wagging good time at "Bark in the Park" on January 6th, 2024, in Riverside Park, Vero Beach! This delightful event invites families and their furry companions for a day of outdoor fun. Whether you're a pet owner or simply an animal lover, "Bark in the Park" promises a day of four-legged frolics, laughter, and shared moments with your canine friends. Don't miss this opportunity to celebrate the bond between humans and their beloved pets in the heart of Vero Beach. For more information, visit their website!
Don Giovanni Performance
January 7th / 2024
Mozart's Don Giovanni is an arrogant and promiscuous nobleman, who abuses and outrages everyone until he encounters something supernatural that he can't outwit or destroy. Fully staged in Italian with English subtitles, with the Brevard Symphony Orchestra. VBHS Performing Arts Center. For more information, visit their website!
Annual Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival
January 18th - 21st / 2024
Four days of frog legs, carnival rides, and live entertainment, this volunteer-based event began as a way to raise money for the recreational needs of the children in Fellsmere. It is a winner of two Guinness Book of World Records for most frogs sold at a festival, the Fellsmere Frog Leg Festival attracts over 80,000 people to the area and has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars back into the community over the last 33 years! There are rides for the youngins as well as wild and crazy rides for the more adventurous, and plenty of games to test your skills. There’s free admission, free parking, and free entertainment. For more information, visit their website!
22nd Annual Sebastian Riverfront Fine Art & Music Festival
January 20th -21st / 2024
The 22nd annual Sebastian Riverfront Fine Art and Music Festival will be held on January 20th and 21st, 2024 from 10 am - 5 pm Saturday and 10 am - 4 pm on Sunday. The show will be held along the beautiful Indian River Lagoon in Sebastian, Florida. The festival is free and open to the public. The streets will be closed to accommodate exhibitors and set-up will begin at noon on Friday. With the support of The City of Sebastian and local sponsors, we will continue our effective advertising campaign. For more information, visit their website!
Til Death Do Us Part... You First!
January 20th -21st / 2024
Coming to the Vero Beach Theatre Guild on Saturday, January 20th 2024! Don't miss this opportunity to see "Til Death Do Us Part ...You First!" written & performed by Peter Fogel. For more information, visit their website!
Vero Half Marathon & Sea Turtle 2 Miler
January 21st / 2024
The organizers of the Space Coast Marathon & Half Marathon, welcome you to the 4th Annual running of the Vero Beach Half Marathon and the Sea Turtle 2-Miler, scheduled for Sunday, January 21st, 2024 in beautiful Vero Beach, Florida. With Vero Beach’s picturesque beaches and relaxed small-town vibe, the entire event revolves around a great beach escape weekend. The race site is a short walk from the Atlantic Ocean. Some participant perks include medals, shirts, finish-line photos, and more! For more information, visit their website!
Vero Beach International Tennis Open
January 22nd - 28th / 2024
The 2024 Vero Beach International Tennis Open hosted at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club is a $60,000 USTA Pro Circuit Tournament. The 2024 Edition of the Vero Beach International Tennis Open will feature players from more than 30 different countries on the tennis courts of Grand Harbor Beach and Golf Club. This is part of the WTA Event Circuit and is only one of ten events of this caliber in the country! For more information, visit their website!
Larry Brown Quintet Jazz Concert
January 25th / 2024
Do you wish that you had more access to truly amazing jazz concerts? We do too! That’s why we are proud to bring you the Larry Brown Quintet for you to enjoy at the Vero Beach Theatre Guild! This exciting group has so much experience bringing the joy of jazz to their audiences. We have no doubt your evening will be a thrill for all senses! For more information, visit their website!
Sergey Belyavsky Concert
January 27th / 2024
The Emerson Center and Temple Beth Shalom proudly present " A Classical Pianist in Concert in Vero Beach." Come watch Sergey Belyavsky, one of the best pianists in the world today, perform on January 27th at 7 p.m. at the Emerson Center. He has toured and performed in renowned venues in over 28 countries, collaborated with acclaimed orchestras worldwide, and garnered widespread recognition, winning prizes in more than thirty prestigious international piano competitions and festivals. Whether you're a classical music enthusiast or appreciate contemporary tunes, this concert will transport you through a diverse musical journey. For more information, visit their website!
Ancient Egypt & the Napoleonic Era Exhibition
January 28th - April 28th / 2024
This show features paintings, sculptures, and illustrated books by a diverse group of artists, many of whom were academically trained, having learned to draw and paint from life and sketch directly from nature. All works are a loan from the Dahesh Museum of Art, New York, the only institution in the United States devoted to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting works by Europe's academically trained artists of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. For more information, visit their website!
Golden Fork Awards
January 29th / 2024
The Treasure Coast Foodies 2024 Golden Fork Awards will be celebrated at Celebration Grove, on January 29th from 6 to 8 p.m. The event will be honoring the Top 10 Best Dishes, a Chef of the Year, and a Restaurant of the Year! The winners are selected from reviews and dining experiences over the previous 12 months. Your ticket includes a tasting from each restaurant, one complimentary beverage (cash bar available), and a mini Golden Fork to vote for your favorite dish of the night! For more information, visit their website!
February
Morning After Grace
January 30th - February 18th / 2024
After connecting at a funeral, Abigail and Angus find themselves waking up the next morning with more questions and revelations than they each expected. Enter Ollie, a neighbor and former baseball player, who brings insight into Angus' deceased wife. With comical revelations, this unlikely trio tackle love, loss, and coming to terms with growing old. Set in a Florida retirement community, this heart- warming and often hilarious new comedy takes us on an unexpected journey toward a new lease on life. For more information, visit their website!
4th Annual Treasure Coast Ribs, Wings, & Rock Festival
February 2nd - 4th / 2024
This can’t-miss event will be held at Indian River Fairground, where foodies, music lovers, and barbecue aficionados can come together for a weekend of delicious eats and rocking tunes. Attendees can expect a variety of musical acts performing on two stages throughout the weekend. From classic rock to modern hits, there’s something for everyone. In addition to great music, there will also be delicious food available from local vendors like BBQ ribs and wings. For more information, visit their website!
A Midsummer Night's Dream
February 2nd - 4th / 2024
The Shakespearian classic, Midsummer Night's Dream, with all of the witty comedy, and fantastical creatures that made this play a favorite for theatre aficionados and high-school dramatists alike. This is your chance to enjoy a night of culture and make some memories at your local community theatre! For more information, visit their website!
Gardenfest
February 3rd & 4th / 2024
This annual event is hosted by the Garden Club of Indian River County and celebrates everything garden. Over twenty years have been spent scouring the south to bring together the highest quality vendors of plants and garden accessories. Vendors prepare their displays with great skill and care to show gardeners the latest trends in plant materials and design. For more information, visit their website!
15th Annual Motor Car Exhibition
February 10th / 2024
This year's automotive showcase will highlight Rods and customs – vehicles that proudly display the artistic craftsmanship of individual builders. These dedicated enthusiasts transform ordinary automobiles into their dream cars, showcasing their boundless creativity in body design, paintwork, engines, and interiors. Witness the incredible imagination and skills of these builders as they turn their visions into reality. Don't miss the opportunity to explore their unique creations and engage in conversations with the owners, discovering the stories behind the birth of each distinctive Rod or Custom. Additionally, you'll be captivated by a stunning exhibition of immaculate motorcycles. For more information, visit their website!
Waldos Secret Art Walk
February 10th-11th / 2024
Experience the magic of 'Waldo’s Secret Art Walk,' a tribute to Waldo Sexton at his homestead on December 16th and 17th. Explore the lush jungle garden filled with surprises, featuring works from thirty local artisans in sculpture, jewelry, painting, furniture, fabric, glass, and metal, along with readings, dance performances, live music, gourmet food, and craft beer from Sailfish Brewery—open 11 am to 5 pm both days. For more information, visit their website!
12th Annual Florida Craft Brew & Wingfest
February 17th / 2024
With a family-friendly atmosphere, the best beer and wings in the state of Florida, live music on two stages, and the top craft beer brewers and wingfest chefs all in one place, there truly is something for everyone at the Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest! Kid-friendly food is available for purchase from local Pointe restaurants, including pizza, hamburgers, and snacks. Pretzel necklaces are a hit with youngsters, and sodas are sold at two locations. For more information, visit their website!
Kinky Boots at Riverside Theatre
February 20th - March 17th / 2024
When Charlie Price inherits his father’s shoe factory, he’s faced with a dilemma – file for bankruptcy or find a way to save the family business. Charlie finds inspiration in Lola, a fabulous female impersonator, who is in need of some sturdy boots. As Charlie and Lola work to save the business, they find they are not so different after all. With dedication and fortitude, Lola conquers Milan with their new line of boots. With success assured, Charlie finally realizes his love for Lauren, the factory’s forewoman. For more information on show times, visit their website!
Live in The Loop
Select Fridays & Saturdays Every Month
COME HUNGRY! HANG-OUT, ROCK-OUT, OR CHILL-OUT! Almost every Friday & Saturday night (rain or shine), Riverside Theatre’s Live in the Loop becomes the local hot spot where some of the area’s most talented musicians perform. Enjoy burgers, chicken, bbq, salads, ice cream, beer, wine, and cocktails. Outdoor table seating and space for lawn chairs for casual dining and outdoor concerts is available under the oak trees. For more information, visit their website!
Downtown Friday
Last Friday of Every Month
Come out to Main Street Vero Beach to do a little shopping, eating, and drinking out on the avenue. There’s always a rocking band at one end, and a pop DJ at the other, and even in between are plenty of cool vendors with everything from locally sourced honey, to artwork, and Floridian décor. For more information, Visit their Website.
Sunset Saturdays
Second Saturday of Every Month
Join us for Sunset Saturdays, happening the second Saturday of the month starting November 11th at Humiston Park. There will be live music, ice cold beverages, and fabulous wines. Bring your lawn chairs and get ready to have a great time. For more information, Visit their Website.
